Sewing machine attachment



Aprifl 10, 1951 s COHEN 2,548,144

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q @etazli O INVENTOR. 5 4M051 COHEN BY Aprifi W, 1953 s. COHEN SEWINGMACHINE ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1948 9 X) mw w .lmwvwINVENTOR. SAMUEL COHf/V A TTOQNEY Aprifl 10, 1951 s. COHEN SEWINGMACHINE ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 10, 1948 m mung INVENTOR.SAMl/fl COHEN Patented Apr. 10, 1951 SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT SamuelCohen, Fall River, Mass, assignor to Pilgrim Curtain '00., Inc.

, Fall River, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts- ApplicationNovember 10, 1948, Serial No. 59,293

2 Claims. 1 ihis invention relates to sewing machine attachments. Morespecifically, the invention pertainstoa sewing machine attachment of thetype adapted. to make a fabric article consisting of at least two pliesof fabric of which the upper ply is narrow and is stitched to the underply.

A typical fabric article of this character is a curtain, the particularportion of the curtain referred to being the edge where a tape-likefabric is stitched around at least a ortion of the peripheral zone ofthe curtain body.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a sewing machineattachment of the charactendescribed adapted to manufacture a fabricarticle wherein the upper ply is sewed to the under ply along two spacedrows of stitching, and the upper ply between these two rows consists ofa series of spaced mounds.

it is another object of my invention to provide a sewing machineattachment of the character described which is adapted to manufacture afabric article wherein the up er ply, in addition to including a seriesof mounds, comprises two rows, of overlapping pleats, one adjacent eachedge of the upper ply.

" It is a further object of my invention to provide a. sewing machineattachment of the character :deseribed which comprises relatively fewand ;.fsi'inple parts and is easy to use.

Other objects of my invention will in part be bbviolls and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordinglyconsists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exsaidmachine;

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary side view of the righthahd end of the machine";

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 ofFig. 2-;

Fig.6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 5:5 f

Fi'g. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 ofFig. 5;;- h iFig. v is a sectional view taken substantially iii Fig. 8is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the attachment at adifferent stage of its operation; and I 'Fig. 10 is a bottom view of theattachment.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes a sewing machine ofconventional construction on which there is mounted an attachment [2'embodying my invention. Said machine includes a conventional head l2driven from a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor or ashaft (not shown), by means of a transmission such as a belt [4 andpulley [6. The forward end of the machine has the usual presser bar l8and needle bar 20, the latter carrying a double needle mount 2|.

The attachment l2 may be driven in any suitable manner. However, forsimplicity and ruggedness, I prefer to take the drive for the attachmentfrom the driven end of the head l2 rather than the needle bar. To thisend I pro vide on the power input end of the drive shaft 2-2 a gear 24which meshes with a gear 26 journailed on a supporting bracket 28 boltedto the diametrically of the gear. The head of a crank bolt 32 iscaptively slidable in the slot and the opposite end of said bolt isthreaded to receive a nut 34. Between the head of the bolt and the nutis a collar 36 which is rotatable about a slightly larger sleeve (notshown) so that said collar can be rotatably held in any adjustedposition along the 'T-shap'ed slot by tightening the nut 34.

The collar 36 comprisesone end of an adjustable length connecting rod 38whose other end has another collar 40. This second collar is pivotallyattached to 'arocker arm 42 by a wing bolt 44 which threadedly engages anut (not shown) in -back of the arm 42. Said arm is formed with anarcuateslo't 46 through which the shank of the bolt passes so that thecollar 40 can be set at any desired position along the length of theslot. The rocker arm is clamped to an attachment shaft 48 which isjournaled in two bearings 50, 52 at the rear and front of the sewinmachine.

The fixed ratio of the gears 26, 24 is 2:1 so that the attachment shaft48 will oscillate through a complete cycle once :for every tworevolutions of the power shaft 22, "or once for every two completecycles of the needle bar 20. The angle 8 through which the attachmentshaft rocks can be regulated by adjusting the throw of the crank bolt 32and the effective length of the rocker arm 42. Moreover, the angularposition of the shaft at its two extremes of movement can be adjusted byvarying the length of the connecting rod 38.

The forward end of the attachment shaft fixedly carries a long bladeholder arm 54 whose lower end comprises a pair of spaced ears 58 whichbetween them support a pin 58 on which a blade carrier I50 rocks. Theback of the blade carrier is attached to the lower end of a helicaltension spring 62 whose upper end is caught on a bolt 64' secured to theblade holder arm. Thus, the blade holder is biased in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed from Fig. 2 with its front (bladecarrying) end urged downwardly.

A shirring blade 62 fixed to this end is of unique construction. Saidblade comprises a wide strip of sheet metal having two openings at itsrear end through which a pair of bolts 64 pass to secure the blade tothe blade holder. The upper forward edge of the blade is beveled as at63 so that the front of the blade has a chisel-like sectionalconfiguration. Said blade is quite thin (in the order ofone-thirty-second of an inch) whereby the bevel, which is at an angle ofabout 45 to the undersurface of the blade does not extend back too far.The front of the blade is of -V-shaped configuration in plan, with theapex of the v extending toward the presser bar I8 and beingsymmetrically disposed with respect to an imaginary line normal to aline joining the two needles N and midway therebetween. In addition, thefront of the blade includes two rearwardly extending notches 61 inregister with the two needles N.

At the tip of its V-shaped forward edge, the blade carries an upwardlyextending flat sheet metal prong 68. The forward edge I of the pronginclines toward the presser bar at an angle of about 70 to thehorizontal. Accordingly, the tip of the prong lies in front of the tipof the apex of the V.-shaped forward edge of the blade. The forward edgeIII ,of the prong is notched, as at I2, where it joins the shirringblade.

The shirring blade is used in conjunction with a presser foot 14 ofspecial design. Said foot comprises a conventional shank I6 which isadapted to be secured as with a screw 18 to the presser bar I8. Theshank is pivotally connected by a pin 80 to a presser foot tread 82constructed in accordance with my invention. Essentially said treadcomprises a block 84 directly beneath the shank and to, which the pin 80is pivotally secured. Extending toward the shirring blade along bothside edges of the block are a pair of upstanding flanges 86, 88. Theseflanges are connected by a thin tape guiding plate 90 whose undersurfaceis substantially horizontal and whose upper surface slopes downwardlyand forwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal. The

forward edge 92 of the guide plate has a configuration in plansubstantially matching the configuration of the forward edge of theshirring blade as best will be seen from inspection of Fig. 9. Inaddition, the tip of said forward edge 92 has an integral projectingtongue 94. The tread is provided with an undercut groove or slot 96 inline with the prong 68 and tongue 94. Said groove extends rearwardlyfrom a point slightly in advance of the tip or free end of the tongue,

and divides the undersurface of the tread beyond the guide plate 00 intotwo sections 98, I00. Both of thesesections have their undersurfacessloped upwardly as at I05 (Fig. 7) toward the edges I02, I04 facing theguide plate. Said edges I02, I04 are immediately adjacent the forwardedge 92 of the guide plate and are located a short distance above thesame, e. g. approximately A; of an inch. Optionally, and as shown, thetwo tread portions 98, I00 may be completely separated from one anotherbetween the guide plate and the block 84. In addition to the foregoing,the undersurfaces of the tread sections 98, I00 may be formed with broadshallow grooves I06 sufiicient to accommodate a few plies of fabric.Finally, the tread includes a pair of needle openings I08, H0 in properposition to pass the needles N. The presser foot is designed to bedisposed above the usual needle plate I I2 having openings II4 throughwhich standard serrated feed dogs IIB move in a rectangular path.

One ply of fabric is fed to the needle beneath the presser foot andanother ply of fabric of narrow transverse dimensions is fed to theneedle above the level of the bottom of the presser foot tread.

Optionally, the presser foot may include means to guide the upper fabricply and, if this ply is too wide, the guide means also may constitutemeans to fold such ply to proper size. In the illustrated embodiment ofmy invention the foregoing guide and folding means comprises aconventional folder I I8 supported from the machine by a pair of armsI20, I22. The folder terminates at a discharge mouth I24 in transverseregistry with the space between the upstanding flanges 86, 88. The guidemeans also includes a crosspin I26 spaced from and connected to thepresser foot tread at its rear edge.

In the operation of the machine the connecting rod 38 is adjusted inlength with respect to the settings of the bolts 32, 44 so that thefront of the shirring blade at the end of its forward stroke is near butnot beyond the tip of the tongue '94. The length of the stroke isadjusted according to the amount of gathering which it is desired toefiect or to the height to which it is desired to raise the center offabric in the overlying fabric ply or tape, whichever is controlling.

The underlying ply I28 is fed to the sewing machine in a conventionalmanner so that it passes beneath the rear edge of the presser foottread. The overlying ply I30 of light fabric, e. g. net or curtainmaterial, is reduced to a narrow width by passage through the foldingmechanism H8 and then is led beneath the cross-pin I20. It may bementioned at this point that the term fabric ply as used herein mayinclude only a single layer of fabric, as in the case of the lower ply.I28, or it may constitute two or more layers of fabric as in the case ofthe upper ply I30 whose two side edges are folded underneath. Thecross-pin I26 is approximately level with or somewhat below the rearedge of the plate so that as the upper ply I30 is guided on to saidplate between the flanges 86, 88 said ply will lay against the plate.The upper ply is led in this fashion to beneath the tread sections 98,I00.

The lower fabric ply I28 is fed forwardly by the feed dogs IIB whichpress this ply against the undersurface of the plate 90 and thereby impart a forward motion to said fabric ply, The upper fabric ply cannot befed in this manner inasmuch as it passes over the top of the plate 90,and once it leaves said plates it travels through the shallow groovesI06, I08. The upper ply is fed by the shirring blade 62. By properlysetting the position of the bolts 32, 44, this blade has a length ofstroke imparted thereto in excess of the distance the lower ply isadvanced by the feed dogs in two operating cycles of the machine. Thus,in its forward motion the blade will feed the upper fabric ply adistance greater than the lower fabric ply is fed in the same period ofoperation. The overfed portions of the upper ply are folded down intopleats I3I at the lateral edges of said ply by the downwardly andrearwardly sloping undersurfaces I05 of the tread sections 98, I90.These pleated portions are stitched to the cover ply by the doubleneedles N operating through the needle openings 508, I I9.

The foregoing pleats are formed beneath and by the tread sections 98,I99. However, these sections are separated by the central groove. In thevicinity of said groove there is nothing to press the overfed portionsagainst the lower ply and the top surface of the blade. Therefore,within the groove the overfed portions take on the shape of mounds. Thisformation of the center of the overfed portions is ensured by theconstruction of the shirring blade as set forth hereinabove, e. g.,since the blade has a V-shaped pushing edge, there is a tendency toraise the fabric at the center of the blade. Moreover, the pron 68engages the material of the upper fabric being overfed by the pusherblade and elevates the same as will be appreciated from inspection ofFig. 5. with respect to the blade and prong by the notch 12. With theforegoing construction a mound I32 is raised at each stroke of theshirring blade. Rows of stitching I34, I39 sewn by the needles N throughthe pleats I 3| tend to maintain the shape of the mounds.

It may be observed that the groove 96 is sufficiently large toaccommodate a mound of substantial size, but that it is not necessary tothe operation of my invention for the mounds raised by the shirringblade 62 to completely fill said groove. The mounds may be of a lesserheight or a greater height than the groove, it being sufficient that themounds are not pressed down to form pleats, as are the side edges of theoverlying fabric, by the downwardly and rearwardly sloped edges I 05 ofthe tread sections 98, I00. I

It thus will be seen that I have provided a sewing machine attachmentwhich achieves the several objects of my invention and is well adaptedto meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various possible changes might be made in the embodiment setforth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shownin the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

The fabric is prevented from slipping Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sewing machine attachment comprising a presser foot having a treadincluding a pair of needle holes, said tread also including a platerearward of said needle holes, the forward edge ofv said plateterminating short of said needle holes, the portion of said tread beyondthe forward edge of said plate having an undercut groove between theneedle holes which runs forwardly from the rear edge of said portion,said presser foot having associated therewith a shirring blade with aV-shaped pushing edge riding on said presser foot plate, said pushingedge having a pair of notches therein to pass needles operating throughthe needle holes, and means to reciprocate said blade on said plate insynchronism with the feed of a sewing machine.

2. A sewing machine attachment comprising a presser foot having a treadincluding a pair of needle holes, said tread also includin a platerearward of said needle holes, the forward edge of said plateterminating short of said needle holes, the portion of said tread beyondthe forward edge of said plate having an undercut groove between theneedle holes which runs forwardly from the rear edge of said portion,said presser foot having associated therewith a shirring blade with apushing edge riding on said presser foot plate, said blade having acentrally disposed upwardly extending prong, said prong having a forwardedge including a base which is located at said shirring blade and a tipwhich is disposed at a greater distance upwardly from said pressure footplate than said base, said forward edge extending forwardly from andoverhanging the pushing edge of the shirring blade, and means toreciprocate said blade on said plate in synchronism with the feed of asewing machine.

SAMUEL COHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,257 Knoch June 12, 18831,800,409 Schuepbach Apr. 14, 1931 1,966,519 Prazak July 17, 19341,985,106 Robbins Dec. 18, 1934 2,086,013 Cooper July 6, 1937 2,162,591Schneider et al. June 13, 1939 2,277,720 Seaman Mar. 31, 1942 2,277,722Seaman Mar. 31, 1942 2,352,660 Sigoda July 4, 1944

